The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Versus Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex

This oil-control serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to balance excess oil and refine the look of pores.

This hydrating serum is formulated around Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer and Sodium Hyaluronate to hydrate skin and strengthen the skin barrier.

What's inside

Key Ingredients

Benefits

Concerns

No concerns

Ingredients Side-by-side

Water

Niacinamide 10%

Pentylene Glycol

Zinc PCA 1%

Dimethyl Isosorbide

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum

Xanthan Gum

Isoceteth-20

Ethoxydiglycol

Phenoxyethanol

Chlorphenesin

Water, Niacinamide 10%, Pentylene Glycol, Zinc PCA 1%, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Glycerin

Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract

Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer

Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Sodium Butyroyl Hyaluronate

Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6

Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate

Betaine

Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate

Yeast Extract

Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose

Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract

Lecithin

Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate

Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3

Magnesium Chloride

Sodium Benzoate

Potassium Sorbate

PPG-26-Buteth-26

PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil

Ethylhexylglycerin

Polyglucuronic Acid

Water, Glycerin, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Butyroyl Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Betaine, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Yeast Extract, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Lecithin, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Myristoyl Nonapeptide-3, Magnesium Chloride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, PPG-26-Buteth-26, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Polyglucuronic Acid

Reviews

Alternatives

Ingredients Explained

These ingredients are found in both products.

Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.

Chlorphenesin is a synthetic preservative. It helps protect a product against bacteria in order to extend shelf life. In most cases, Chlorphenesin is paired with other preservatives such as phenoxyethanol and caprylyl glycol.

Chlorphenesin is a biocide. This means it is able to help fight the microorganisms on our skin. It is also able to fight odor-releasing bacteria.

Chlorphenesin is soluble in both water and glycerin.

Studies show Chlorphenesin is easily absorbed by our skin. You should speak with a skincare professional if you have concerns about using Chlorphenesin.

Dimethyl Isosorbide (often shortened to DMI) is a sugar-derived solvent made from sorbitol. It's used to dissolve tricky ingredients and help them mix smoothly into a formula.

Many actives sit as gritty crystals when undissolved, so DMI swoops in to full dissolve them. This helps improve texture, stability, and how evenly an active is distributed.

It does have a penetration-enhancing reputation that is a bit more nuanced than marketing suggests; a cell study on human skin found that 10% DMI didn't significantly boost the permeation of Hydroquinone, Salicylic Acid, or Octadecenedioic Acid compared to controls (though it did improve their solubility in the formula itself).

Typical usage concentrations usually range from 1-10% depending on the formula's needs; this ingredient is also well tolerated at these levels.

Pentylene Glycol (1,2-pentanediol) is a multitasking little diol with three main roles in a formula:

Research on alkanediols (the family pentylene glycol belongs to) show they work by disrupting microbial cell membranes. This disruption helps the primary preservative system in a product work more effectively at lower doses.

On the safety side, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel has concluded this ingredient to be safe as used in current cosmetic practices + concentrations.

Typical use levels in a formula run about 1-5%.

Phenoxyethanol is one of the most widely used preservatives in skincare (and for good reason!).

It has a large spectrum of antimicrobial activity and especially effective bacteria, yeast, and mold while only having a weak effect on your skin's natural microbiome.

On a cellular level, it disrupts the cell membranes of microbes by poking holes that make the cell leak. This shuts down the chemical reactions the microbe needs to make energy so it can no longer survive.

Another perk of this ingredient is that it stays functional across a wide pH range (3-10).

You'll often see it paired with boosters like Ethylhexylglycerin; one study showed that a 1:9 ratio of Ethylhexylglycerin to Phenoxyethanol damages bacterial membranes as effectively as doubling the Phenoxyethanol concentration on its own.

Typical use concentrations range from 0.3-1% depending on the formula, and this ingredient is capped at 1% int the EU.

Safety-wise, the fear mongering does not hold up to the evidence. The EU's Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety and FDA consider it safe as a preservative at up to 1%, including for children of all ages.

Adverse systemic effects only showed up in animal studies at exposures roughly 200x higher than what people get from cosmetics. And despite its very widespread use, this ingredient is a rare sensitizer and allergic reactions are uncommon.

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is from the seeds of Tamarindus indica. It is more commonly known as tamarind.

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is used as a texture enhancer, emulsifier, and skin conditioner.

When added to products, Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum helps thicken and create a gel-like texture.

Tamarindus Indica Seed Gum is a humectant. It helps draw moisture from the air to your skin. This keeps your skin hydrated.

Emulsion stabilizing ingredients help stabilize a product. They work by stabilizing two non-mixable ingredients. An example would be oil and water.

Water. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.

So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.

You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!

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